Virtualizing software

[anc3s]

I have been using Windows 7 x64 for a few days now, and upon realizing that Sandboxie and Altiris SVS only support 32 bit i have been looking for another software virtualization app for x64.

I'm not looking to run a whole os or anything like that, just a way to easily remove all traces of a program to decrease the bloat the eventually builds up on a computer.

Anyone here got any recommendations for a program that is relatively easy to use and similar to the aforementioned programs?

I've searched elsewhere on this forum and have only seen virtual box/pc/vmware. anything else?

 

[Night Hawk]

Welcome aboard the Se7enforums! anc3s

The idea behind any virtual machine to start with is to isolate what is run there from the host OS. For seeing all traces of a particular program removed you wouldn't start off with any virtual machine to begin with.

The first step is the uninstaller or Programs+Features uninstall option if either is present. From there manual removal of any program folders and leftover entries in the system registry has to be considered. Depending on the type of program you are trying to remove you can often include removal of any traces found under your user name in the "C:\users\(your user name)\AppData\Local or Roaming usually\" sub folders underneath that.

If some part of the program is still loading a deeper look in the registry as well as booting up in safe mode may be required since it is still in use by Windows during a normal session. A driver removal tool is sometimes employed if the application belongs to some addon device.

 

[johngalt]

Anc3s,

I think the closest you are going to find for *your* setup would be one of 2 things:

1) Returnil Virtual System - Returnil - The Real Security for your home or business - Download RVS now to protect your PC.

It may be a bit more than you bargained for, but it is the closest competitor to Sanboxie out there, although it is not free (but the new beta currently is, and supports 64bit OSs as well.

2) You could always use our tutorials to use Virtual PC and make an image of your current system that you could then load as an alternate OS to your built OS. This may not make any sense whatsoever, but the underlying theme is that Windows 7 has the ability to load .VHD (Virtual Hard Disk) as a real OS. The hard part is setting it up - it takes a bit of time. The good part is that if you do this then you will always have a bootable OS in case your primary OS fails.

See http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/625-boot-vhd-using-windows-7-a.html for an introduction to booting .VHDs, and there are a few links in that tutorial that have a lot more information, including on how to create them, manage them, etc.

In all honesty, though, unless you're like me and Beta test a lot of applications, you are not going to have a lot of detritus on your machines, other than in temporary folders and such. Orphaned files won't cause problems unless another application uses them (in which case they are not technically orphaned) and if that is not the case then those files merely take up space. Some applications can leave large amounts of things (like Office 2007's cache, which can be up to a GB on some people's machines) and there are some registry entries that get left behind upon uninstallation of apps, but even those never get too hairy b/c the registry is not loaded all at once - just like files, they get loaded as needed. It's one of the (many) reasons that W7 runs so much better, smoother, and more efficiently than Vista.

At any rate, I hope those options will help. Enjoy the power and beauty of 7.

 

[Night Hawk]

I just saw 7 go on a usb flash drive here using SUN's Portable Virtual Box that comes in 32bit only, 32-64bit, and 64bit alone flavors. The problems run into with any virtual setup besides running the new XP Mode with full access to internal drives is being cut off with other setups!

Booting from a live Linux disk like ubuntu or Knoppix on dvd will allow full access to internal drives without any part of Windows loaded providing a different method of browsing the system and of course tracking down individual locations where any remaining traces are to be found for the program.

Another to know here would be the type of program since some bury stuff in different locations under "users\(your user name)\AppData\local\" or "roaming" there or under "your user name\MyDocuments". You won't have direct access to the system registry unless booted in Windows and using the regedit to remove any traces there however.

 

[johngalt]

I'm not looking to run a whole os or anything like that, just a way to easily remove all traces of a program to decrease the bloat the eventually builds up on a computer.

Anyone here got any recommendations for a program that is relatively easy to use and similar to the aforementioned programs?

Hence my suggestions.

 

[Night Hawk]

If you elect the MS Virtual PC option note that the RC for that and the new XP mode is now available before getting into the betas linked in the tutorials. But even that only sees 32bit support as well.

In fact it's SUN's Portable Virtual Box in use on the flash drive for the 64bit RC installation seen there on a vhd. The VB program itself comes in 32-64bit dual compatibility there.